Bi Polar and medications?!?!

I was diagnosed with bipolar, anxiety disorder and severe depression a couple of years ago. after trying a quite a few traditional meds/combos, none of which helped, i am currently on something that actually works (and no, absolutely no weight gain...i am very cognisant of that issue myself):

adderall--60mg/day (commonly perscribed for add, which i also have but there is some new medical evidence that it helps some patient with bipolar)--works great for me

klonopin-4mg/day--anti-anxiety (so may not appply to all bipolar patients)

ambien-10mg--occasional insomnia

I have the same problem.  The ****tail I am on includes medications that contribute/cause weight gain, or make loss VERY difficult.

One medication my doctors tried was Topamax, specifically because one of the side effects is weight loss/loss of appetite.  Unfortunately I have an allergy to one of its components, so I can't take it.   When I spoke with my therapist about alternatives, she mentioned that the "butrins" tend to help with the increased appetite/weight gain issue.  I know that there aren't many people with bipolar whose docs Rx the "butrins" because they (IMHO) are a lighter weight medication for the rapid cycling.

Good luck!!!!

What in the world are the "butrins"??

Welbutrin? 

My psychiatric medications over the last 11 years have contributed to my weight gain, but I take serouqel and will continue to take it as it has kept me stable for several  years.

I am on Pristiq and Depakote. My thought process is that if I gain 10 to 15 pounds from them, but am able to function normally and my bi-polar is not destroying that ability in me - than that is far more important then the weight gain.

I am a year out from surgery, look at my weight loss, however I am newly diagnosed as Bipolar and BPD, am on Seroquel for 6 weeks so far and have lost 7  lbs in the 6 weeks.     I do not feel an increase in appetite.


What are the butrins?              All I can think of is wellbutrin???

Jen,

I noticed that you said your were recently dx with BP and BPD and I wanted to invite you to check out the bipolar forums on about.com.  They are pretty helpful.

Becky (waiting) in NC

Depakote causes weight gain, I gained almost 150 pounds since being put on that medication!! I was working out 6 days a week, eating all natural diet and still gaining!! Do some research and you will find that there are medications for Bipolar that don't cause weight gain. Try a few different things. http://psychcentral.com/it's VERY helpful website!! Hope you find what works!!